Life Lists

I love lists -- I always have my stash (yarn and fiber) list with me at festivals and I like going to festivals with a list of things I'm looking for.  I'm not rigid and do not always adhere to the list, but I like the sense of order that seems to come with lists.  That's one thing that I love about Ravelry -- it's all in one place.  In addition to lists, I am also fond of setting goals.  Put goals into list form and the "life list" emerges. 

The subject of life lists has come up in different conversations lately.  I have been thinking of putting one together for some time and, in fact, had a talk with my husband a few weeks ago.  Does he have one?  What's on it?  And then today, a good friend sent along this article from the New York Times. 

Is it turning 40?  It is a sense of mortality?  Who knows, but I've decided to try and put pen to paper - or fingers to the keyboard to be precise.   

I am approaching it in the same way that I put together many lists (I start an email to myself and then save it as "draft" and then add to it -- one of my current favorite draft emails is captioned "Rhinebeck".)

Not sure that I'm going to have a specific number of goals -- I'll let it marinate for a while and evaluate.  If you are comfortable sharing, I'd love to hear if you have a life list and anything else you'd like to share.  My list, at this point, is travel-heavy, but I suspect that it will change as I give it more and more thought.  Here are a few things I'd like to do:

• Go to Japan
• See Mount Rushmore (and take a cool pic)
• Visit Chicago
• Ski at Deer Valley, Utah
• Go to a James Taylor concert at Tanglewood
• Visit Vancouver
• Visit Barcelona
• Visit Hawaii
• Keep a written journal for a year
• Read the Torah by weekly passage
• Run a 5K
• Wear a bikini on a white sand tropical beach
• Speak fluent Spanish

Of course, there's the subject of fiber life lists, much like bird watchers have their bird lists, but that's another post.

Comments

[margene]

I just squealed when I read 'ski Deer Valley';-)
The way Ravelry works is much like my own stash/project organizing lists. I've not made a life list because it seems things evolve for me and that's been fine so far.

[Cynthia]

I had a life list about 5 years ago and it was very helpful. After a few months or so I had achieved--or set in motion--a good number of my goals. Then, I abandoned it. Hmmmmm.

I have a friend that swears by 43things.com for all her lists. Have you seen it?

[susan]

Trust me, Kathy, it's Alta you want to ski at.

[Carole]

I don't have a life list but I decided that I'd like to participate in a demolition derby some day. Does that count?
And I do have a bird life list.

[Karen]

I don't have a life list but I can tell you what number one would be, if I did. RETIRE! :)

[Kim]

Lists are great things...........but I am forever either forgetting them or misplacing them...groan....

Great goals btw!!!

[Beth S.]

Interesting! Isee that many of your goals are travel-related, and that is an excellent thing.

The closest thing I have is an old wish list of projects on my work computer, and it's fascinating to see how few of those projects I'm still interested in a year or two later.

[Jan]

You're welcome to come visit me in Chicago someday, Kathy...if I ever get there myself. ;-)
Japan, a worthy destination. Don't take that off your list.

[Laurie]

This is great. I'm going to start my lifelist this weekend and see what comes up. I HAVE been postponing. Too much.

[Vicki]

My book club just read a book called "The Next Thing On My List" which had to do with something like this. At our meeting, we all shared five things that would be on our list -- it was so interesting to do and share as a group, very affirming and even a little empowering, definitely strengthened our knowledge of each other and our connections.

Heh, I do draft email/notes to myself all the time, too! I can access it from any computer!

[claudia]

No life list. Only constantly changing interests. I enjoyed reading yours though!

[Li_B]

I'm going to come up with a list. The top item is to stop worrying about how to find enough $ to retire. I spend too much time doing that.
Li

[Manise]

I too draft e-mails to myself with various headings- usually in list form. Need to start up a Rhinebeck one. :-)

In terms of lifelists.......travel does fit in there for me : going back to Greece for a month during the summer to visit my childhood home- almost went this summer and glad we didn't due to the extreme heat and now the devastating fires. And that James Taylor concert at Tanglewood? That would be wonderful- adding it to my list :-) One more.....being able to knit lace like some of my friends!

[JessaLu]

What a great list! :o)

[Teyani]

hmmm, it seems that you'll be doing some travelling in your future ! may all your wishes come true.

[Miss Scarlett]

Oh yes - come to Vancouver! I am just one hour away...Vancouver BC that is. I am a little further from Vancouver Washington!